Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

We don't yet have an NFL season, but when we do, Marv Albert will be calling games for CBS. Sean McManus, CBS Sports Chairman, made the announcement Monday.

“Marv Albert is recognized throughout sports broadcasting as one of its true legends,” McManus said. “Very few in the broadcasting industry can claim his combined accomplishments and remarkable longevity. We are extremely excited to add Marv to our NFL ON CBS team.”

"I'm very excited about it," Albert told CBSSports.com. "I've always enjoyed doing football on TV. [The CBS NFL opportunity] kind of came out of nowhere when CBS and TNT partnered up to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Sean McManus contacted David Levy, the president of TNT Sports, and asked permission to talk to me about it. You know, I wasn't expecting it, but we put the deal together and I'm just thrilled about it."

Thanks to social media, fans have been swift and ruthless with their criticism of newly hired announcing teams in recent years. When the NFL Network named Joe Theismann and Matt Millen to work in the Thursday Night Football booth last season, the decision was roundly -- and loudly -- ridiculed. In Albert's case, the news has been universally praised because, well, it's Marv Albert. The man's a legend.

Part of being legendary is knowing the medium. Albert was the radio voice of Monday Night Football for Westwood One from 2002-2009, and he, better than anyone, understands the subtle differences between television and radio.

"In radio, you are the game, so to speak -- you have to describe every aspect," said Albert. "In TV, I've always felt less is more, and it's really a question of my setting up the color analyst more than anything else."

When asked how he maintains his excitement for a job he has been doing since he jokingly said he was 12 years old, Albert offered this: "I still have such a passion for what I'm doing. I mean, I think that's the important thing. I watch everything -- I'm still a big TV viewer, I still listen to radio in terms of sports.

"I always feel you can get better, too," Albert continued. "I'll look at game tapes after I've done a game (because) you can always pick things up. To me, there are always aspects you can do better. And I'm always attuned to that -- I still love that part of the business. For whatever reason, the fire hasn't gone away."

In the recently released book about the history of ESPN, Those Guys Have All the Fun, ESPN.com columnist Bill Simmons was quoted as saying that "Nobody on the planet watches a sports game for the f------ announcers." He was referring to ESPN's Monday Night Football. For most fans, Albert is one of the few exceptions to that rule although he understands Simmons' overall point.

"You know, I would agree with that" Albert said. "There are certain announcers who can make a game better to listen to where (fans) would enjoy it more and they're not saying 'Hey, what's he saying?' or 'That's stupid.' Which we all do, you know, and it's easy to do that."

Albert admits that preparation is one way to keep fans interested.

"I always try to come in -- and I'm not alone in saying this -- with stories and information," he said. "I feel very strongly about (not) using cliches. I always feel -- and sometimes I realize that you can over-prepare -- but it's better to do that because you don't want to be in a situation where … fans of one of the teams you are doing know more than the announcer. You really have to be prepared because the moment goes by quickly. So if you don't hit on the proper information at the right time you're going to miss.

"On the other hand, you don't want to give too much information. If I give 10 percent of what I have that's pretty good. Because otherwise, you're talking too much."

Finally, we asked Albert about his long-time relationship with David Letterman.

"It goes back to my days at NBC at Channel 4," he explained. "I was doing the six o'clock and 11 o'clock sports, and [Letterman] was doing his show at NBC across the hall from us. He was a big sports fan so he would see when I played the 'wild and the wacky' bloopers, and he said that this might go very well with a live crowd. And I ended up coming on a lot, and it continued when he moved over to CBS. ...

"[Talking with Dave] is like sitting with one of my brothers. And he has his Indianapolis ties so we'll end up talking about the Pacers or something, or Ball State. I try to Google 'Ball State' before I go on just to see what's going on."

If the owners and the players needed another reason to end the lockout, having Albert calling games this fall should be pretty high up the list.

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

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Since: Dec 2, 2011

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Since: Dec 2, 2011

Posted on: December 3, 2011 6:17 am

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Since: Sep 14, 2006

Posted on: June 8, 2011 10:53 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Yes!

Marv, a football genius, will really be able to sink his teeth into his new role. Known for his expertise on Tight Ends and Back Door plays, Marv is grateful for the opportunity. "I've traveled down a lot of dirt roads to get back to commentary prominence," said Albert.

Trying to find the perfect partner to compliment Albert, CBS is said to be wooing 'junk' mail expert Brett Favre out of the training room and into the booth, where he can harass a whole new set of interns.

Since: Oct 29, 2008

Posted on: June 8, 2011 8:55 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Just what the NFL needed a Perv calling games! What letting the Perv back to call games in the NBA wasn't bad enough we need the Pervert doing football too!

Thank-you for your post. I thought I was the only one disgusted by the news. I can't stand watching basketball games he calls.

But, then what would I expect from the network that thinks Phil Simms is a good announcer. (NOTE - I'm not drawing any type of other comparison between the two of them. I'm only commenting upon the quality of CBS' announcing crew.) Give me Collinsworth & his partner, or the Monday Night crew any day.

Since: Jul 26, 2008

Posted on: June 8, 2011 8:27 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Hey guys this is not Marv Albert 1st rodeo at calling games for the NFL. Marv and Boomer Esiason call Monday night games on Westwood One and they where excellent.

Since: Feb 27, 2007

Posted on: June 8, 2011 5:21 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Marv Albert is the worst broadcaster of all of them out there. Annoying, nasally voice, with odd intonations. He's also slow to react to the action. Overall, a very questionable move by CBS.

Since: Aug 30, 2007

Posted on: June 7, 2011 11:31 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

And why wasn't Gus Johnson promoted or at least retained? I don't have a problem with Marv other than he is nearing 70, and for anyone over the age of 25 he is known as the voice of the NBA. It would be like Madden or Al Michaels deciding in their last few years of announcing to cover the premier NBA games. It just doen't make sense. I just hope he replaces Simms who is pretty much hated universally. I wouldn't mind seeing Barkley cover a few games just for the comedy. I mean, really, what is the difference?

Since: May 31, 2007

Posted on: June 7, 2011 11:30 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Noticing sarcasm must not be your strong suit.

Since: Sep 30, 2010

Posted on: June 7, 2011 8:47 am

Marv Albert 'thrilled' to call NFL games for CBS

Great now we have the felony types on the field, in the booth, and not wanting football, unless they break the union.Hurting the fans is not enough for this cast of characters, now they want to insult us...push us around...charge us morefor beer or not allow it like those JETS...where's the fun going too....